Author Topic: Mustachian Specs?  (Read 9751 times)

Mini-Mer

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Mustachian Specs?
« on: July 19, 2013, 04:54:57 PM »
Hello all!  Looking for advice on strategies for prescription eyewear.  There was a thread about vision generally a while ago, but I'm looking at glasses in particular (ineligible for Lasik and not interested in contacts).  My current pair is 4-5 years old, my last prescription but one, and the lenses are scratched enough to be annoying..  The frame has some flaking paint on the earpieces, but is in good shape otherwise.  I'm out of unbroken sunglasses, and due for an exam.

I've tried ZenniOptical once, and the quality seems iffy for daily wear.  Several of my friends have used Warby Parker (more expensive, with the option of trying frames before purchase).  My current thought is to order sunglasses from ZenniOptical, and either try to reuse my old frames or go through Warby Parker for daily-use glasses... but what would a Mustachian do?

Spork

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Re: Mustachian Specs?
« Reply #1 on: July 19, 2013, 05:01:43 PM »
I just rolled the dice a couple of days ago on Zenni.... haven't gotten them yet to have an opinion, but I'm interested in the various responses.

My Zenni's were more than I expected: about $70.  (Bifocals with a pretty aggressive prescription that required higher end optics).

Eric

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Re: Mustachian Specs?
« Reply #2 on: July 19, 2013, 05:16:31 PM »
I have not used it (yet), but my best friend swears by $39 glasses dot com.  Granted there are some add ons that you may want to get, like anti-reflective coating, but it's still pretty cheap.

I'm not sure there's a way around the eye exam, but that's generally not too expensive.

Spork

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Re: Mustachian Specs?
« Reply #3 on: July 19, 2013, 05:25:06 PM »
In my experience the anti-reflective coating is actually "extra scratchprone coating that costs a bunch".   That coating is the whole reason I need new specs.

Eric

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Re: Mustachian Specs?
« Reply #4 on: July 19, 2013, 05:27:28 PM »
In my experience the anti-reflective coating is actually "extra scratchprone coating that costs a bunch".   That coating is the whole reason I need new specs.

Okay then!  We're saving money already!

Russ

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Re: Mustachian Specs?
« Reply #5 on: July 19, 2013, 05:34:58 PM »
In my experience the anti-reflective coating is actually "extra scratchprone coating that costs a bunch".   That coating is the whole reason I need new specs.

and prone to bubbling, flaking, yellowing...

I think it must be intended for people who get new glasses every year or something. The glasses I have would never have lasted this long with it (7 years, new pair to be delivered next week), that's for sure

Spork

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Re: Mustachian Specs?
« Reply #6 on: July 19, 2013, 06:08:13 PM »
I've had 2 pairs now.  (STUPID for getting the second one!)  Both lasted less than a year.  Both were always treated gingerly and only cleaned with a special cloth and special solution. 

There won't be a third time.  The last pair was $400.  (Yes, I didn't misplace the decimal.)

BC_Goldman

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Re: Mustachian Specs?
« Reply #7 on: July 19, 2013, 06:16:24 PM »
I've used zennioptical a couple times now and have been happy with the service life of the glasses I've bought. And getting a pair for $10 is still a good deal even if you had to replace every six months. I think I got probably 4 or 5 years between my first two pairs and I didn't really take care of them. I think they actually lasted longer than the first pair I ever bought. Had to order new ones after the frame cracked on the half-frame pair. I went with full frames this time and also got a tinted pair so I have prescription sunglasses.

CanuckExpat

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Re: Mustachian Specs?
« Reply #8 on: July 19, 2013, 06:25:03 PM »
I've had good luck with Coastal for glasses. Since I'm not picky on style, I've been able to take advantage of their free pair promo a couple of times (pay shipping and handling). If you are interested I think I could dig up a referral code that gets you (and me) a credit. 
« Last Edit: July 25, 2013, 12:34:02 PM by CanuckExpat »

VasyaPupkin

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Re: Mustachian Specs?
« Reply #9 on: July 19, 2013, 08:33:37 PM »
Been pretty happy with Warby Parker. The $120 glasses form them are a lot more comfortable than my previous $400+ paid for by me and insurance.  (Before I knew any better)

Rural

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Re: Mustachian Specs?
« Reply #10 on: July 19, 2013, 09:35:17 PM »
I've been quite happy with Zenni. I go for the cheap end of their stuff (and I'm single vision for now...) and have spent about $70 a year for four or five pairs two years in a row, some in fun colors I never would have gotten if they weren't under $20. I rotate through a few and I have had a couple of duds (and ruined one pair I really liked when we had the insulation sprayed in). I like not wearing the same pair every day, and I get compliments all the time.

StarryC

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Re: Mustachian Specs?
« Reply #11 on: July 20, 2013, 03:14:39 PM »
Check out this site for some detailed analysis of the glasses monopoly, dealing with your optometrist, deals, and tips for getting the right pair online : http://glassyeyes.blogspot.com/

I've bought from goggles4u and 39dollarglasses  I usually wear contacts but went through a period where they weren't working for me.  I got a pair of frameless for $12 from one site, got buy 1 get 1 free from another and at some point got sunglasses too.  In the 4 pairs, only the sunglasses didn't seem just perfect to me.  I don't have a complicated prescription though (-3.25 in each eye.)

Assuming that you can see out of them correctly, but they don't last as long, I think that's fine.  Lets say you spend $75 a year for a new pair v. $400 for one pair that you can make last 3 years.  You're coming out ahead.  In fact, if you just upfront get 3 pairs, you can rotate looks for all three years!  Also, it takes all of the stress out of glasses (Can't do this or that, what if I ruin my glasses!  What will happen if I break them on vacation! Now, I don't care.  Just bring an extra $20 pair)

onehappypanda

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Re: Mustachian Specs?
« Reply #12 on: July 20, 2013, 03:38:28 PM »
http://www.coastal.com/

Check out their "First Pair Free" program. I have a few friends that got free Rx glasses through them and were really happy with them. There is a limited selection of frames for the first pair free program but there are some ok looking ones on there. I have no idea how the quality compares, having not used them myself, but free is hard to beat.

Edited to add: I think you do have to pay for shipping, so switch that to "first pair for the cost of shipping".

I haven't tried Warby Parker, still limping along in the last pair I bought, but I'll be replacing them soon and if Coastal doesn't work out I think I'll go the Warby route. I've heard good things from friends about the quality there.
« Last Edit: July 20, 2013, 03:42:36 PM by onehappypanda »

MrsPete

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Re: Mustachian Specs?
« Reply #13 on: July 21, 2013, 06:31:29 PM »
I bought a pair of prescription sunglasses from Zenni once, and it was not a good experience. The frames were "too short" for my head, and the earpieces gave me a headache.  I took them to the place at the mall, and they put them into the hot sand and adjusted them . . .  To no avail.   The frames were just ill-suited to my head, and I could not have known that ahead of time.  Too bad 'cause the prescription was dead-on and I loved the look.

Some places have back-to-school sales on eye glasses.
Do you qualify for a discount through AAA, a professional organization, or a club? 
Can you find a coupon? 

In the long run, this isn't something upon which to scrimp.  You're going to wear these glasses each and every day.  It's a necessary spend. 
« Last Edit: August 24, 2013, 09:26:48 PM by MrsPete »

Micheal

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Re: Mustachian Specs?
« Reply #14 on: July 22, 2013, 12:48:22 AM »
My wife got hers from Coastal, with a coupon the first pair is free + shipping as long as you have your prescription.  http://www.coastal.com/coupon-eligible-glasses  She has had them a year now and the quality is pretty good.  Ill have to ask her where she got the coupon from and I'll update it here.

Hunny156

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Re: Mustachian Specs?
« Reply #15 on: July 22, 2013, 10:33:56 AM »
I've used Zenni for several years now.  I've tried pricing the other sites like $39, but I'm like REALLY blind, so by the time they get the right lenses for my prescription, the glasses are well over $100.  Ugh.

Zenni manages to keep my glasses priced at about $25, with no frills, and that's fine by me.  The frames are nice enough to wear daily, and I really don't care if you can see a thick lens from the side.

Another option is the optometrist at Costco or Sam's Club.  Hubby got a very good pair at Sam's once, and I think the frames were about $40.  If you need to try before you buy, then that would be a good option.

MissStache

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Re: Mustachian Specs?
« Reply #16 on: July 22, 2013, 01:23:19 PM »
I'm currently wearing my $39 pair of Zenni Optical glasses that I bought FIVE years ago.  And I wear them almost every day.  I even bought a backup pair just in case but I've only had to use those when I'd like a change (or I've somehow lost my regular ones between the bedside table and the bathroom, which happens way more often than I would like to admit...)

anastrophe

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Re: Mustachian Specs?
« Reply #17 on: July 29, 2013, 01:03:59 PM »
I have a pair of Warby Parker glasses that I wear everyday. They were not Zenni cheap, though, I paid $150 to get the real pads. I am happy enough with them, they fit well, are comfortable, and the lenses seem better quality than I expected. Also, I started getting hit on about 20% more once I got them (no joke, they are that trendy). However, the anti-scratch coating started flaking off the edges near the frames after 6 months.

ScottEric

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Re: Mustachian Specs?
« Reply #18 on: July 29, 2013, 01:11:40 PM »
I'm on year two of my fist pair of Warby Parker glasses.  I'm due for another pair, but I really like them, probably going to get another pair of exactly the same frames soon.  I've been pretty impressed with them.


frompa

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Re: Mustachian Specs?
« Reply #19 on: July 30, 2013, 04:34:24 AM »
Zenni worked fine for me.  I got a pair of regular glasses as well as sunglasses for under $30, shipping included, and they've held up well enough through my relatively rough wear.  But then, I can be pretty low maintenance when I've made up my mind to be satisfied with what I've got, and my last pair of $400 glasses (three years ago) from my local eye glasses out fit was just too  much for me.

Spork

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Re: Mustachian Specs?
« Reply #20 on: July 30, 2013, 01:00:40 PM »
I got my first Zenni's yesterday... I may get used to them, but my original impression was not so impressed.   Mine cost way more than what seems to be the going rate (due to my prescription).  They seem a little flimsy (and I am seriously hard on frames, so this worries me).  They're the memory titanium frames, so ... maybe they'll be fine.  My biggest complaint was the placement of the bifocal was a little high... almost in my field of vision.  Maybe that will be good for working on the computer... and maybe I'll get used to it... but it seemed odd.  Order-to-delivery time: 2 weeks.

VasyaPupkin

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Re: Mustachian Specs?
« Reply #21 on: August 03, 2013, 01:08:08 PM »
I have a pair of Warby Parker glasses that I wear everyday. They were not Zenni cheap, though, I paid $150 to get the real pads. I am happy enough with them, they fit well, are comfortable, and the lenses seem better quality than I expected. Also, I started getting hit on about 20% more once I got them (no joke, they are that trendy). However, the anti-scratch coating started flaking off the edges near the frames after 6 months.

I see the same thing- it must be the frames style, but you get noticed in them ;)

Mini-Mer

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Re: Mustachian Specs?
« Reply #22 on: August 10, 2013, 03:03:28 PM »
I figured I should report back with what I ended up doing.  I ended up with:

- New lenses in my old frames (which according to the optometrist's records, are five years old).  I spent a week and a half wearing my Zenni spare glasses while they were in the shop.  It took about two hours to realize why they'd been in the back of my closet.  Glasses that don't slide down my nose are gold.  Or, in this case, $150. 

- Two pairs of sunglasses from ZenniOptical.  One nice pair for driving ($10 frames and polarized lenses), and one basic pair that I can wear on a boat without fear.  Both pairs are just a little funky - one is teal at some angles, and the other has a name - not mine! - engraved on the sides.  But they both fit great, and look pretty good.  One thing that helped (I think) with the fit: instead of using a 'try on' face that looked like me, I used the face with a matching pupillary distance. 

Apparently I'm also a candidate for Lasik now.  I decided to go ahead with glasses this time.  It looks like it would be a no-brainer if I wore contacts, but I don't.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!